Independence returns to State Duals with goals set high

INDEPENDENCE – Four years ago, Nicholas Holt and Matt McMillan were junior high basketball players.

Holt was a point guard and McMillan a post player. They wrestled as well and had to make a decision between the winter sports in high school.

Independence assistant wrestling coach Keith Donnelly then made a move, meeting with them and their teammates, showing off the Mustangs' 1997 State Duals title trophy and delivering an inspiring message.

'He set it down and said you guys are a class that if you work hard and stick together we can get another one of these,' McMillan said. 'It got us all thinking and was one of the biggest reasons why I decided on wrestling instead of playing basketball. It's just been a dream.

'We have a shot Wednesday. We have another shot.'

The fifth-ranked Mustangs trounced Denver-Tripoli, 57-18, in a Class 2A regional dual final Tuesday night at home. Independence earned its third straight State Duals berth and eighth overall.

Holt said he remembered the trophy presentation, but was skeptical to whether it would come to fruition. The Mustangs (22-6) have finished third and fifth in the last two State Duals events with one final chance.

'I remember thinking that would be really great never thinking anything would really come out of it,' said Holt, a 170-pound senior. 'Now, we get here and it is at our finger tips.'

Independence dominated its way to the state team competition, blitzing the Titans with a barrage of pins. The Mustangs recorded seven pins and a technical fall.

Independence Coach Michael Doyle said teams either go through the motions or rise to the occasion this time of year. He said he likes to think his team lives for the postseason.

'I think that is why we wrestled the way we did, being aggressive and getting after people,' Doyle said. 'Wrestling should be like that this time of year and I thought they did a good job.'

After Denver-Tripoli took a 6-0 lead on Riley Wright's pin at 120 pounds to open the dual, Independence notched three straight wins.

Jacob Wolf (126) won by technical fall and Tanner Erickson-Dale (132) and 138-pounder Drew Davis had back-to-back falls for a 17-6 edge.

Jake Juhl (160), Holt and Elliott Ryan (182) posted consecutive pins, following Luke House's major decision at 152, to all but seal the victory.

The Mustangs can score points in bunches, thriving off the atmosphere and one another. Doyle stresses the importance of momentum and once things start rolling, no one on the team wants to be the stopper.

'We just build off each other,' said McMillan, whose first-period fall at 220 made it 45-15 with three weights left. 'If one person gets a pin, that gets the crowd and everyone in it. People's minds say let's keep this going.

'We love being under the lights (and) getting the crowd involved. It's a lot of fun.'

Holdyn Griffith provided one last fall at 106 before Jarrett Orr won by forfeit. They entered the school record book with a possibility of improving their previous finishes.

'It means a lot to us,' Holt said. 'It is a huge opportunity and goal we want to accomplish.'

Independence rolled into the final, thumping Gilbert, 60-15. The Mustangs recorded nine first-period falls in the semifinal dual.

The season has had its share of adversity, which makes the accomplishment even more special. Doyle said he hopes they peak in Des Moines.

'This year has been up and down,' Doyle said. 'Our lineup has changed at different times. They are looking forward to (state).'

As for basketball, they still play occasionally.

'Every now and then, but I always play low hoop because I can't dunk on a 10-foot rim,' McMillan said with a laugh. 'I drop it down to seven (feet) so I can throw down some dunks.'

The Titans ended Union Community's dual season with a 39-30 victory in the semifinals. Denver-Tripoli won eight matches. Riley Wright (120) and 145-pounder Caleb Wilson were 2-0 for the Titans.

Regional dual champions advance to the State Duals tournament Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

CLASS 2A REGIONAL DUALS

Championship

INDEPENDENCE 57, DENVER-TRIPOLI 18

120 pounds – Riley Wright (DT) pinned Collin Fischels, 1:48; 126 – Jacob Wolf (I) technical fall Tevon Rettig, 23-8; 132 – Tanner Erickson-Dale (I) pinned Neal Finder, 5:01; 138 – Drew Davis (I) pinned Ryan Maitland, :37; 145 – Caleb Wilson (DT) dec. Seth House, 6-2; 152 – Luke House (I) major dec. Jordan Habben, 9-0; 160 – Jake Juhl (I) pinned Brady Brocka, :34; 170 – Nicholas Holt (I) pinned Dominick Klusman, 2:26; 182 – Elliott Ryan (I) pinned Devon Lund, 1:24; 195 – Izaak Shedenhelm (DT) pinned Tayten Freidhof, 1:56; 220 – Matt McMillan (I) pinned Keenan Bahlman, :56; Hwt. – Brock Farley (DT) dec. Lane McMartin, 2-0; 106 – Holdyn Griffith (I) pinned Sam Platt, :43; 113 – Jarrett Orr (I) won by forfeit.

Semifinals

INDEPENDENCE 60, GILBERT 15

113 pounds – Jarrett Orr (I) dec. Eric Davis, 7-1; 120 – Sinjin Briggs (G) dec. Collin Fischels, 10-6; 126 – Jacob Wolf (I) pinned Garrison Holck, 1:39; 132 – Tanner Erickson-Dale (I) pinned Brock Harris, 1:51; 138 – Drew Davis (I) pinned Jake Larimore, :43; 145 – Seth House (I) dec. Eric Swart, 6-5; 152 – Luke House (I) pinned Russell Jennett, 1:06; 160 – Jake Juhl (I) pinned John Howell, :45; 170 – Nicholas Holt (I) pinned Noah Ante, 1:31; 182 – Elliott Ryan (I) pinned Jack Currans, :32; 195 – Matt McMillan (I) pinned Christopher McGuire, :59; 220 – Christian Harder (G) pinned Lane McMartin, 1:48; Hwt. – Eli Harris (G) pinned Drew Evens, 2:38; 106 – Holdyn Griffith (I) pinned Brian Cruz, 1:35.

DENVER-TRIPOLI 39, UNION COMMUNITY 30

113 pounds – Jacob Worthen (UC) dec. Sam Platt, 10-4; 120 – Riley Wright (DT) dec. Jon Hellman, 5-0; 126 – Tevon Rettig (DT) pinned Kody Crawford, 5:06; 132 – Neal Finder (DT) major dec. Kyle Gross, 12-2; 138 – Derek Holschlag (UC) pinned Brandon Maitland, 1:42; 145 –Caleb Wilson (DT) technical fall Kaleb Roach, 16-0 ; 152 –Jordan Habben (DT) dec. Kole Hedeman, 5-2 ; 160 – Isaiah Vaughan (UC) pinned Brady Brocka, 3:33; 170 – Dominick Klusman (DT) pinned Bryon Sells, 2:43; 182 – Will Reiter (UC) dec. Devon Lund, 3-0; 195 – Izaak Shedenhelm (DT) pinned Lane Albertsen, :30; 220 – Keenan Bahlman (DT) pinned Sam Johnson, 5:31; Hwt. – Michael Ahrendsen (UC) won by forfeit; 106 – Payton Hellman (UC) won by forfeit.

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